Pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetes mellitus.

In 217 patients with diabetes mellitus, 32 (14.7%) had also pleuropulmonary tuberculosis confirmed by bacteriologic or histologic means. Either unilateral or bilateral lower lobe involvement was seen in 20 patients (62.5%). Of these, 75% were febrile, the response to antituberculous drugs was slower than in patients with apical lesions. Confirmation of tuberculosis was also more difficult in patients with lower lobe disease. The prevalence of tuberculosis in diabetic patients must be considered and the disease should be especially suspected in diabetic patients with lower lobe lesions.